A system for delivering packages from a warehouse to end destinations, the system comprising a fleet of self-propelled long-range transports and a fleet of containers, each configured to be loaded at the warehouse with packages destined for end destinations. Each long-range transport is configured to be loaded with at least four of the loaded containers and transport the at least four of the loaded containers from the warehouse to one or more intermediate destinations. Upon arrival of one of the loaded long-range transports at one of the one or more intermediate destinations, at least one of the loaded containers is separated from the loaded long-range transport, whereupon the separated container delivers packages to end destinations proximate to the one of the one or more intermediate destinations. After delivery of at least some of the packages loaded thereon at the warehouse, the container is once again loaded on the long-range transport and returned to the warehouse to be loaded with more packages.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the short-range transports are maintained at the one or more intermediate destinations.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the short-range transports are propelled by electric motors.
4. The system of claim 3 wherein the electric motors are powered by batteries carried on the containers.
5. The system of claim 4 wherein the short-range transports comprise secondary batteries for propelling short-range tractors without a container loaded thereon.
6. The system of claim 4, wherein the batteries are recharged while the containers are loaded on the long-range transports.
7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a device to check the status of the batteries while the containers are loaded on the long-range transports.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the short-range transports are remote controlled or autonomous vehicles.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein each short-range transport comprises a driver cab, a chassis, at least 3 wheels and a motor.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the long-range transports each comprise a trailer pulled by a long-range tractor, and wherein the containers are loaded on the trailer.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the system comprises more trailers than long-range tractors, whereby trailers can be loaded at the warehouse while not attached to a long-range tractor.
12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a processor for processing data relating to the identity of the packages and the respective delivery destinations, and wherein the processor is configured to determine loading of the packages into each of the containers such that the packages will be removed from the container in the order of delivery at the end destinations.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to determine the loading of the containers onto the long-range transports.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is still further configured to determine locations of the one or more intermediate destinations based on the end destinations of the packages loaded in the containers on a particular day.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor is yet still further configured to determine routes for the containers to travel to the end destinations.
16. The system of claim 1 further comprising package receptacles located at delivery destinations.
17. The system of claim 1, further comprising a fleet of delivery robots carried with the containers at least from the intermediate destinations to the end destinations and configured to take packages from the container and deliver them from an end destination to a drop off point.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein the containers are propelled by electric motors powered by rechargeable batteries, and wherein the rechargeable batteries are recharged while the containers are loaded on the long-range transports.
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September 15, 2021
September 3, 2024
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